VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that "saints, gurus and seers played a significant role in keeping the countrymen united during the freedom struggle of several hundred years, but their contribution has not been described in history as it should have been done".
He was addressing the 98th anniversary celebrations of Sadguru Sadafaldeo at Swarveda temple of Vihangam Yog Sansthan in Umraha area here on Tuesday.
Modi said, "Sadguru Sadafaldeoji Maharaj was among those saints who went to jail first during the non-cooperation movement. During his stay in jail, he conceptualized Swarveda and made it a reality after coming out. To keep the people united, saints like him sacrificed their penance and hugely contributed to India's freedom struggle, but their contribution has not been described in history the way it should have been done."
Modi said, "Whenever adversities emerged, saints rose to change their course," adding that "India is the country where the man who led the freedom struggle from the front was described as Mahatma."
Modi further said, "Bringing saints" contribution in the freedom struggle to the fore has become our responsibility in order to make the coming generations aware about it. Amrit Mahotsava, which is being observed in the 75th year of India’s independence, is an effort in the same direction. Kashi can play an important role in enlightening the world with our philosophy and science."
"The objective behind Vihangam Yoga of Sadguru was to make Yoga accessible for all," he said adding, "Today, when the entire world is following Yoga, it seems that such objective has become fulfilled with the blessings of Sadguru."
Modi also called upon the people to make the mission of promoting natural farming a mass movement to boost the cow-based economy. "Cow should not remain the medium of milk production for the farmers, but its other dimensions should also be explored. World is quitting chemicals and switching over to organic farming. Cow waste is not only useful for organic fertilizer, but also in producing biofuel, which helps in saving the environment. On December 16, a big programme of zero budget natural farming is going to take place and everyone should take part in to know about it," he added.
He said that after two years, the birth centenary of Sadguru was going to be observed. But, before celebrating it everyone should take some pledges. One pledge should be to educate girls and work for skill development in them. Capable persons should try to enable girls from poor families to learn skills. Other pledges should be to keep the rivers and other sources of water clean and focus on sanitation. Such work should be done in the name of God, which will prove fruitful for the society.
Earlier, while welcoming the PM at the event, chief minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted that Amrit Mahotsava was being observed to recall the contributions of those who sacrificed their life in the freedom struggle. Mentioning Swarveda as knowledge of life, he said, "Yoga is a science in itself. Today, if the world recognizes Yoga and observes World Yoga Day, it has become possible due to Modiji."
